Franchise

NORTH AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE: South Division defeats Midwest Division in League’s Top Prospect Tournament

ODESSA AMERICAN SPORTS

TROY, MICH. Odessa Jackalopes forward Josh Obregon recorded one assist as the South Division defeated the Midwest Division 5-0 Tuesday night on the second night of the North American Hockey League’s Top Prospect Tournament. Obregon, who had a...... Full story

Premier Development League Soccer: Freeland to join Sockers

ODESSA AMERICAN SPORTS

The addition of former Permian standout David Freeland highlighted the West Texas Sockers’ announcement Friday that they have eight players lined up for the 2012 season. Freeland, a redshirt junior at Midwestern State, has scored 18 goals and...... Full story

INDOOR FOOTBALL: Roughnecks bring back two former players, add new one

ODESSA AMERICAN SPORTS

The West Texas Roughnecks re-signed two familiar faces and introduced a new one during a news conference Thursday at Music City Mall. Jermaine Blakely and Dwayne Hogan, who played on the Roughnecks' 2006 Intense Bowl championship team, will return...... Full story

Odessa's Jalen Krogman races toward the goal as Fresno's Jesse Durfee chases him during a Feb. 4 game against the Fresno Monsters at Ector County Coliseum.

NORTH AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE: Jacks lose to Mustangs

ODESSA AMERICAN SPORTS

RIO RANCHO, N.M. For the second time in as many days, the Odessa Jackalopes lost a 4-1 game to the New Mexico Mustangs on Sunday at the Santa Ana Star Center. The Jackalopes (17-24-5) came into the weekend series with a 5-1 record against the...... Full story

Odessa's Jared Docken, center, and Jalen Krogman skate past a celebrating crowd following Docken's score in the second period during a recent home game versus the Corpus Christi IceRays.

HOCKEY: Jacks fall in New Mexico

RIO RANCHO, N.M. The New Mexico Mustangs got third-period goals from Adam Chapie and Evan Johnston to hold off the Odessa Jackalopes 4-1 Friday night at the Santa Ana Star Center. Chapie scored twice on the night, with Taylor Ward adding the fourth...... Full story

NORTH AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE: Jacks escape with win

ODESSA AMERICAN SPORTS

RIO RANCHO, N.M. Lawrence Cornellier and Taylor Portner each scored extra-attacker goals in the final two minutes to tie the game and then Josh Obregon scored on the power play 59 seconds into overtime to lift the Odessa Jackalopes to a 5-4 victory...... Full story

NORTH AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE: Jacks trade for Doucet

ODESSA AMERICAN SPORTS

The Odessa Jackalopes announced Monday that the team has acquired Ryan Doucet, a 6-foot-4, 205-pound forward, from the Topeka Roadrunners for future considerations. Doucet has scored six points (three goals, three assists) in 33 games this season....... Full story

Jalen Krogman of the Odessa Jackalopes races toward the goal as Fresno's Jesse Durfee chases Saturday night during the North American Hockey League game at Ector County Coliseum. The Jackalopes won 1-0 in a shootout.

NORTH AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE: Jackalopes beat Monsters in shootout, gain ground in playoff race

BY LEE SCHEIDE

Odessa Jackalopes defenseman Mikko Virtanen had yet to find the back of the net in 18 games since joining team in December from Sioux Falls, S.D., of the United States Hockey League. The drought is over, and it couldn’t have come at a better...... Full story

NORTH AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE: Jacks suffer home loss to Monsters

BY LEE SCHEIDE

The Odessa Jackalopes got an unwanted lesson Friday night about going 100 percent on each shift, and it cost them dearly. With the game tied late in the third period, Fresno’s Petr Mainer and Jeffrey Pauluk went behind the Jackalopes net and...... Full story

Lawrence Cornellier (center) joined the Odessa Jackalopes in November and has improved his all-around game. Cornellier hopes to help the Jackalopes play into a playoff position.

NORTH AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE: Cornellier buys in after late arrival

Forward’s defense improves for Jacks

BY LEE SCHEIDE

Lawrence Cornellier was in Owatonna, Minn., at this time last season when whispers started about the North American Hockey League’s Owatonna Express being purchased and moved to West Texas. While teammates were understandably worried about...... Full story

Former Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Lee Smith, left, autographs baseball cards and helmet for Robert Barton Wednesday during the West Texas Sports Banquet at Midland Country Club.

BASEBALL: Time spent in Midland made big impact on Smith's career

BY ADAM ZUVANICH

MIDLAND Lee Smith’s baseball career reached a crossroads when he reached West Texas. During Smith’s first season with the Double-A Midland Cubs in 1978, manager Randy Hundley asked the big right-hander to give up starting pitching and...... Full story

NORTH AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE: Jacks dealt blowout loss

ODESSA AMERICAN SPORTS

AMARILLO Joe Kozlak scored a hat trick to lead the Amarillo Bulls to a 7-2 victory over the Odessa Jackalopes in a North American Hockey League game Sunday. The Jackalopes, who were outshot 54-19, dropped to 0-8-0 against the Bulls this season....... Full story

From left, Odessa's Mikko Vertanen, Lawrence Cornellier and Bryan Mitchell celebrate the Jackalopes' first goal of the night during Saturday's game against the Corpus Christi IceRays at Ector County Coliseum.

JUNIOR HOCKEY: Six players score as Jacks skate to key victory against IceRays

BY LEE SCHEIDE

It’s not quite desperation time for the Odessa Jackalopes and their playoff hopes. But that time is close, and Saturday night they played with the energy befitting that attitude. More importantly, they did it against the team they are chasing...... Full story

NORTH AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE: Jackalopes put up fight in loss to Bulls

BY LEE SCHEIDE

Sunday should be interesting. Friday night certainly was when the Odessa Jackalopes and Amarillo Bulls met for the seventh time this season. There were four ejections, more than 100 minutes in penalties, breakaway and power-play goals for both...... Full story

Odessa's Jalen Krogman carries the puck up the ice in the first period of a game last month.

NORTH AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE: Honored Jackalopes players hope to start playoff push

BY LEE SCHEIDE

The players in the North American Hockey League all have a common goal in wanting to play at the next level, be it collegiately or professionally. To that end, the league provides college and professional scouts the opportunity at the beginning of...... Full story